ARA: How do I deal with my roommate’s cat that’s in heat?

My roommate’s cat is in heat and I haven’t slept for real all week. I’m serious when I say I went to bed at 11 last night was woken up at 3:30 and stayed up till after 7. I was so exhuasted this morning, I can’t handle this “being in heat” BS. The cat is yowling and banging on the door and rubbing up on everything! What do you do when your roommate isn’t following up with getting a cat ‘fixed’ and its causing issues?

25 Responses

While it may not be your place to do so I would take that cat to be fixed. If it’s a male it will spray and the smell is awful and impossible to get out and if it’s a female – and this may not be true – but I thought they bleed. You can find places on-line for a reduced cost spay certificate.

YIKES. I would NOT take an animal that does not belong to you anywhere! That will bring a giant slew of unnecessary drama to your home.

Your roommate should have the cat crated or confined to her bedroom if she is a nuisance. If you are unable to communicate this to your roommate verbally then write her a nicely worded note, text, e-mail – say that you have been unable to get rest and that the cat is a disturbance and could she place extend to you the courtesy of keeping the cat confined during ‘sleeping hours’.

This is a tough one. When you moved in was the cat there already? Did you ask if it was fixed?
Or did she just bring it home? If so did you tell her that she needed to get it fixed or she could not keep it?
If I were the reader, I would offer to take it to be fixed after its done with its heat. Local rescues offer spay and neuter clinics on a regular basis.
Wait till it gets out, then you will have kittens to deal with!

I’m not a biologist, so I don’t know the particulars of the heat physiology. I can understand if people are not able to afford a spaying. Is it really unhealthy if an animal that is in heat cannot mate? Is it okay for them if the humans suspend their Puritan ways and invent some inexpensive adult stimulators to get them through these times?

Haha. When I adopted my cat she was not fixed, and I had to wait a month until she was out of heat to get her fixed. Apparently you cannot spay a cat who is in heat. It was the first time I encountered a cat in heat and it freaked me out. I would recommend flat out telling your roommie to get the cat fixed, or do it yourself. As for the yowling, get a pair of ear plugs, because even if your roommie does want to get the cat fixed, it may be a few weeks until a vet will do it.

You can always make fun of it as well. There is an episode of South Park in which a cat is in heat. When our kitty was getting all yowling, we would play that episode, then make fun of the cat. Also, our kitty kept trying to get our male, neutered cat (her “brother”) to be interested in her. I should have put that on video tape. The poor girl was shot down so many times!! She also had a weird obsession with our bald friend. Whenever he came over to visit she would meow and rub on his leg. Maybe she likes bald guys ;-)

In all seriousness, though, you need to be able to communicate with your roommate. Whether the cat was there before you moved in or not, you both pay a share of the rent and therefore the living conditions should be comfortable for you both. If your roommate needs to wait until the cat is out of heat to have it fixed, the cat should be sequestered in your roommate’s living quarters so it does not disturb you.

I agree that the cat should be locked in your roommates room until it is out of heat. As soon as the cat is no longer in heat you need to have a sit down with your roommate and let her know that the cat either needs to get spayed or the cat can no longer stay in your apartment. It’s called common curtosy and you expect that your roommate would consider your feelings like you consider her’s. Spaying is only $70 at an animal hospital in Scotia. Your roommate does not seems to be a very good roommate or an animal owner.

Unfortunately I am going through the same thing right now, but the cat belongs to me. I have made arrangements for her first two sets of shots and then she is to be spayed in March, because that is when she will be old enough and it is with in the time frame that she won’t be in heat.
I do feel bad for my roommate, but she knew moving in with me that I may have to find another companion for my cat-because her primary companion had to be put down three weeks before our move due to a failing liver-he was 13. My heart was shattered by his loss, and my cat was very lonely. So when a co-worker asked if we would like the female cat that had been dropped off at his house by his EX wife, my roommate and I agreed to take her in. She was supposed to be my roommates cat, but that all changed when she got “too” cuddly for my rommates liking.
Needless to say, I have been feeding, bathing, grooming, petting, loving and paying for this cat and all her expenses. She’s a great cat, very loving and a wonderful cuddler. She never makes messes, always uses her box, and keeps the other cat active. Her only vice… socks.
On several occasions, including before she began to go in heat, my roommate suggested throwing her out, getting rid of her, or killing her. I always defend the cat because she is a cat and does not understand these things. I can train her to stay off counters and tables, but I can’t train her not to go in to heat.
My roommate also brings up the issue of getting a dog instead. While I like dogs, we do live in an apartment complex with older people. Cats are quiet and indoor creatures, while dogs need constant supervison, potty breaks and training.
We work the same shift and she’s gone to school in the morning. She also goes out several times a week to drink, has the larger room, pays less in rent (because I have cats), complains about nearly everything and hardly pulls her own weight in anything around here.
I work full-time, care for my aging parents, visit my grandfather, act as council to my sister in heart failure, make time for my boyfriend, care for my cats, clean our apartment, do the shopping and still have a few moments to myself each week. She does less than half of the things that I do, yet she dares complain that the cat is in heat.
I swear, come this August I am changing the locks and throwing her stuff out, she’s not on the lease and if she can’t be grateful that I haven’t punched her yet… then she needs to move on.